Nation/World Briefs

November 25, 2005

NATIONAL BRIEFING

Bush continues his tradition of making phone calls to troops

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- President Bush said Thursday that he's thankful for troops serving in a time of war as he made Thanksgiving Day phone calls to 10 members of the U.S. military services stationed around the world. From his ranch here, Bush called troops serving in the Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Army early Thursday morning before sitting down for dinner with his family. "He thanked all of them on behalf of the American people for their service," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. "He said all of them were patriots. He's very proud of them and thankful for them." Perino said Bush asked those he spoke with to pass the message on to their fellow service members. Talking to troops has been a tradition for Bush on Thanksgiving. He often makes such phone calls, but in 2003 he went further, surprising soldiers serving in Baghdad by showing up unannounced in their mess hall for the holiday meal. NATIONAL BRIEFING

Investigators of train crash looking at traffic signals

ELMWOOD PARK, Ill. (AP) -- Officials investigating how a commuter train plowed into several vehicles at a backed-up intersection said Thursday they were looking at whether traffic signals gave vehicles enough time to clear the track. The crossing gates appeared to be working, but traffic during the Wednesday evening rush hour had cars slowed or stopped on the crossing as the train came barreling through, officials with the National Transportation Safety Board said. "The cars were in a place they shouldn't have been at the time," acting NTSB chairman Mark Rosenker said. Sixteen people complained of injuries after the Metra train crash in the Chicago suburb of Elmwood Park, Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said. Rosenker said three people remained hospitalized in stable to serious condition Thursday. Investigators planned to interview the train's crew members today, and were investigating human error and other possible causes of the crash. INTERNATIONAL BRIEFING

Pinochet indicted in kidnapping, disappearance of 6 dissidents

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Former Chilean dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet was indicted on human rights charges Thursday and placed under house arrest, hours after he made bail on unrelated corruption charges filed only a day earlier. In a widely expected decision, Judge Victor Montiglio charged Pinochet in connection with the kidnapping and disappearance of six dissidents in the early years of his 1973-90 dictatorship, his office said. Montiglio sent a court secretary to Pinochet's Santiago mansion to inform the general of the charges, which will force him to spend his 90th birthday today under arrest. The judge did not grant Pinochet bail. INTERNATIONAL BRIEFING

Jordan's new prime minister urged to battle Islamic militants

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) -- Jordan's King Abdullah II appointed a new prime minister Thursday and urged him to launch an all-out war against Islamic militancy in the wake of the deadly triple hotel bombings earlier this month. Abdullah also called for a new anti-terrorism law to replace the current, general one that does not specify punishment for different terrorist acts and their perpetrators. In a designation letter to Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit -- who was named hours after his predecessor resigned -- Abdullah said the Nov. 9 attacks "increase our determination to stick to our reform and democratization process, which is irreversible."